Garden Bar Preserve

This 652-acre working cattle ranch located in the Southern reaches of Nevada County includes blue oak woodlands, grasslands, over two miles of Bear River frontage and two miles of interior creeks.

Garden Bar Preserve connects a 9,000-acre conserved landscape on both sides of the Bear River. This represents six linear miles of Bear River and nine linear miles of oak woodland foothills. It is contiguous to Wild Rock Ranch and Quail Agricultural Conservation Easements. This increases water quality protection and species migration.

The intact blue oak woodland addresses the stresses of climate change, reduces soil erosion and sustains water quality. It provides habitat for a wide range of terrestrial and aquatic species. It is BYLT’s objective to improve and ensure the healthy functioning of these natural systems.

Cool Facts: Jim Gates of Nevada County Free Range Beef grazes his cattle on the property. The cattle are grass fed and grass finished. They range freely over hundreds of acres of lush green pasture, enjoying fresh air, warm sunshine, and clear water. They are not given hormones or antibiotics, and their pasture grass is pesticide free. For more information visit https://nevadacountyfreerangebeef.com/about-us/.

History: Early California pioneers once passed through this land on the Emigrant Trail enroute from treacherous passes in the Sierra Nevada mountain range into central regions of the state. A section of the Emigrant Trail can be found at the Garden Bar crossing on the Bear River.

What to do there: Throughout the year, look for notices of special public guided hikes, equestrian rides, bird watching adventures and more. To schedule a private tour or school field trip, contact Stewardship Program Manager Erin Tarr, 530-272-5994 x 203; erin@bylt.org.

Future: BYLT’s stewardship team plans to embark on a pollinator restoration project and will be planting native perennial grasses in the fall. BYLT is also working closely with CalFire to conduct prescribed burning of the invasive grasses at appropriate times of year to improve grassland species composition. After receiving a grant from Sierra Nevada Conservancy for restoration planning, BYLT now has a wetland restoration plan in place for an area of Little Wolf Creek that would support the threatened California black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus).

How to get there: Garden Bar Preserve is located in South Nevada County on the Bear River and accessed through private property and several locked gates.

Rules, regulations: Public access is available several times a year during special events. NO HUNTING.